The heartwarming way Prince William shadows his late mother's footsteps

This is so sweet!
- byErin Hill

Jul
2017

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Prince William shared a special moment with a WWII veteran as he attended an air display to mark the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Tuesday.

The royal dad is patron of the Flight, which was formed to honor the planes involved in the Battle of Britain.

William arrived at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire by helicopter before spending time with the veterans. During his visit, he made a special connection with 99-year-old veteran Ken Wilkinson when he bent down to talk to him in his wheelchair.

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It’s a touching move that William’s late mother, Princess Diana, often used when talking to people in wheelchairs.

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Rusty Waughman, 94, who was a Lancaster pilot from 1943 to 1944, spoke to the prince during his visit on Tuesday.

“He was so easy to talk to, so pleasant,” Waughman said. “Being here brings back so many memories.”

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was formed on July 11, 1957 by Group Captain Peter Thompson, a former Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot and former love interest of Queen Elizabeth‘s younger sister, Princess Margaret.

Maurice Snowball, 95, who served as a Lancaster flight engineer, also spoke to the royal.

“He sat on the chair next to me and I said I hope you don’t mind sitting there as I can only hear with my right ear, so you’re on my right side,” Snowball said.